Page 10 of Solo Stan

Kai

Moodie’s eyes darted between Kai and Elias, suspicion etched across his face.

He shook his head and went to the staff room to place the pies in the freezer.

When his back was turned, Kai and Elias shared a look.

“Say something,” Kai mouthed. A mischievous smirk played on Elias’s lips, and he winked, which Moodie caught as he turned around.

“Kai, outside now,” Moodie said sternly as he gestured to the front door. He then pointed at Elias. “I’ll deal with you at dinner.”

Kai followed Moodie out into the humidity of the waning day, shoulders slumped, his gaze fixed on the ground. He had never been in trouble with Moodie before.

Moodie let out a long sigh and looked wistfully at Elias through the store windows. “My nephew really is a little shit, isn’t he?” He tightened a fist and then released it.

Kai nearly choked on a short laugh. “What?” he asked, in genuine shock.

A vein pulsed in Moodie’s temple as he ground his teeth. “He knows how much you mean to me and probably thinks I’m playing favorites between you all, so he’s trying to win you over just to piss me off.”

Kai’s lips parted, forming a silent Oh . The reason Elias had been trying to charm him all day and was so insistent about hanging out after work wasn’t because of any cosmic connection; he just wanted to spite Moodie.

Moodie’s stare hardened as he turned his attention back to Elias. He shook his head and said goodbye to Kai before he took off in his pickup.

Kai observed Elias for a moment through the store windows, and it struck him that he knew nothing about this kid except he was here because he had gotten in trouble. He didn’t know what kind of trouble. If he fled the state, it could have been a full-on felony.

Kai walked back into the store, past Elias, and lifted one of the heavy trash bags, the plastic handles digging into his fingers as he hoisted it over his shoulder.

Elias grabbed the other and followed Kai to the rear of the store, and they tossed both bags into the open mouth of the rusted dumpster.

Elias took a bucket hat from the side pocket of his bag and pulled it low over his eyes. He produced Kai’s sketchbook, handed it to Kai, and said, “I’m sorry, by the way. I promise I didn’t look.”

Kai hugged his sketchbook. “Hey,” he said, calling Elias’s attention. He figured he’d allow Elias a chance to tell the truth. “Do you still want to hang out tonight?” Elias nodded. “I’m not saying I want to, but if we did hang out, what would we do?”

“The South is known for barbecue, right? Maybe you can show me your favorite barbecue spot.”

“I’m a vegan.”

Elias’s face dropped. “Not to worry. What about a movie? What kind do you like? I’m sure there’s something out.”

“I really only watch romantic comedies.”

The disappointment grew on Elias’s face. “Well, we don’t have to hang out tonight. Maybe on a day off? Do you play basketball?”

“Nah, I don’t really do sports. I do go to the court sometimes to draw the sunset, though.”

“I’m guessing you probably don’t watch sports either?” Elias asked, to which Kai shook his head.

Kai couldn’t believe he’d been ready to go all the way to Raleigh with someone with whom he clearly had nothing in common.

The possibility that Elias didn’t like CYPHR or perhaps didn’t know who he was hadn’t even occurred to Kai.

The concert doors wouldn’t open until about 6:00 p.m., and the concert wouldn’t start until at least 7:00 p.m., so they wouldn’t get home until minimum eleven or midnight.

That would mean they would have spent more than twelve hours together.

They were already about seven hours into it, and Kai still didn’t know anything tangible about Elias.

Normally, that wasn’t necessary for Kai to fall head over heels, but perhaps this was different, for reasons Kai hadn’t anticipated.

“Look,” Kai said with a heavy sigh, “I know you were just trying to prove a point to Moodie. I’m not mad or anything, but I think we both know we don’t really want to hang out.

” He opened his sketchbook and tore out the picture he’d been drawing of Elias and gave it to him. “Let’s just be cool, all right?”

Elias’s expression was soft and discerning. He nodded, the drawing in hand, and Kai walked off without another word.